Headin’ Downtown

Spend the day – or night – in the downtowns of Tulsa and Oklahoma City for delectable food, handcrafted drinks and vibrant entertainment. Explore various districts, admire the architecture, take in the views and enjoy the hubs of leisure in Oklahoma’s urban cores.

Nonesuch

Ludivine

Ludivine is the OKC byword for classic, local haute cuisine with a seasonal rotating menu, themed cocktails and an intimate setting. ludivineokc.com

The Jones Assembly

If you’ve ever wondered where you can indulge watching national music acts while eating a funnel cake ice cream sandwich, fantasize no more. thejonesassembly.com

Flint

A linchpin of the historic Colcord Hotel, Flint takes dining to the next level with stylish dishes and arguably the best patio downtown. flintokc.com

Barrios

Named after a beloved family who helped build the success of the Good Egg Dining Group, Barrios features fresh takes on traditional Mexican fare in a casual neighborhood environment. barriosmexicanokc.com

Tamashii Ramen House

Tamashii led the OKC ramen revolution with its authentic Japanese offerings; don’t miss the spicy ramen with ground pork or the mochi ice cream. tamashiiokc.com

The Manhattan

This staple is a favorite for after-work drinks and bites with downtown workers. themanhattanokc.com

Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse

Since 2000, this upscale steakhouse, named for the baseball Hall of Famer from Commerce, has been a go-to for those looking for a classic dining experience in Bricktown. mickeymantlesteakhouse.com

Mary Eddy’s

In the flashy 21c Museum and Hotel (formerly the Ford Motor Co. assembly plant), Mary Eddy’s has tasty takes on new American cuisine in a vibrant setting. maryeddysokc.com

5. OKC Pubs

O Bar, Best Bar (OKC)

The Yard

This pet-friendly, open-air beer garden has covered seating, local food vendors and activities for the whole family. theyardokc.com

O Bar

Have a drink at one of the best rooftop bars in OKC and enjoy local jazz; on Wednesday, select wines are $5 a glass. obarokc.com

JJ’s Alley

This beloved local institution has live music every night, as well as a full bar and late-night bites. visitokc.com/listings/jjs-alley-bricktown-pub/1067

Bricktown Brewery

This rowdy, energetic joint is where you can meet friends for a pint of local suds, like the Single-String Stout or Wiley’s One-Eyed Wheat. bricktownbrewery.com

Flashback Retropub

Channel your childhood with more than 60 classic, free-to-play arcade games to enjoy as you toss one back. flashbackretropub.com

Sidecar Barley and Wine Bar

This classy locale in Automobile Alley specializes in wine and beer while also offering scotch and small plates. sidecarbarleyandwine.com

TapWerks

Enjoy 212 taps and more than 100 bottled beers in this classic Bricktown pub. tapwerks.com

Bleu Garten

This oasis of flavor in the heart of downtown has a casual environment in which to enjoy the many food trucks the city has to offer. bleugarten.com

Bar Arbolada

Skinny Slim’s

This classic sports pub has a comfy atmosphere, plenty of brews and all the games on the tube. facebook.com/SkinnySlimsOkc

Twisted Spike Brewery

This is an excellent place to grab a growler of vanilla coffee porter or blood orange IPA while stuck for the train. twistedspike.com

4. OKC sites

Myriad Botanical Gardens

Enjoy botanical wonders, cross the famous Crystal Bridge, laugh and cry at Shakespeare in the Park, or try your hand at gardening classes at this park. oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com

Scissortail Park

It’s not too soon to get excited about this 70-acre urban wonderland, set to open phase I this fall. scissortailpark.org

Michael Murphy’s Dueling Piano Bar

Head to Bricktown to catch piano
performers taking audience requests and engaging in verbal friendly fire, along with a selection of cocktails and wine. murphyspianobar.com

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Catch some of the most popular music acts in the nation or watch the best NBA team* in the Western Conference dominate the boards (*in our opinion). chesapeakearena.com

OKC Dodgers Baseball

If basketball is not your love, grab a hot dog and catch a baseball game at the home of the OKC Dodgers. okcballparkevents.com

Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum

On the site of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, this memorial commemorates the spirits of those who died, those who lived and how OKC survived and has flourished since then. oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Home to some of the most famous Dale Chihuly collections in the United States, current and upcoming exhibitions include the photographic legacy of Ansel Adams and works by Impressionist titans Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet and Edgar Degas. okcmoa.com

Red Earth Art Center

Explore rotating exhibits of both contemporary and traditional Native American creations. redearth.org

American Banjo Museum

This quirky, beloved museum holds fascinating secrets and exhibits, including one featuring Kermit the Frog’s banjo and the life of Muppets creator Jim Henson. americanbanjomuseum.com

Doubleshot Coffee

Burn Co. Barbecue

Worth the wait in line, Burn is known for award-winning, uniquely flavored, house-cured meats, which are also available from a to-go market. burnbbq.com

Ike’s Chili House

Founded in 1908, this Tulsa icon uses the same chili recipe today as that served to stars of yesteryear, such as Will Rogers. It also has burgers, fries and sandwiches. ikeschilius.com

Wanda J’s Next Generation

For five generations, this family-owned joint in the Greenwood District has featured southern and soul food favorites, including greens, fried cabbage, sweet potatoes, catfish and fried chicken. wandajs.com

Inner Circle Vodka Bar

Open Container

On the second floor of the Boxyard in the Blue Dome District, Open Container has bar food classics, creative cocktails and a great view of downtown. facebook.com/opencontainertulsa

Vintage Wine Bar

Known for supporting boutique wineries around the globe, Vintage Wine Bar has a cozy, throw-back vibe with plenty of wines to sip. winebartulsa.com

1. Tulsa sites

Henry Zarrow Center for Art and Education

A branch of Gilcrease Museum, the Zarrow Center presents exhibitions created by the University of Tulsa’s School of Art.gilcrease.org/zarrow

The Districts

The Blue Dome, Arena, Tulsa Arts, Cathedral, East Village, Greenwood and Deco districts can be explored on foot or by riding rentable bicycles and scooters. Customized tours are available. The free Old Urban Downtown Trolley is another way to get around Friday and Saturday evenings. downtowntulsaok.com/downtown-districts

Architectural Tours

Architecture tours are a popular way to take in downtown’s many structural wonders. Explore downtown, the tunnels underneath it, various murals and stories of Tulsa’s past. tulsaarchitecture.org and toursoftulsa.com

First Friday Art Crawl

On the first Friday of each month, the Arts District encourages visitors to explore its venues – art galleries, creative dining, cocktails and shopping. It’s perfect for a date on one of many patios. thetulsaartsdistrict.org/first-friday-art-crawl

Woody Guthrie Center

This interactive museum, dedicated to the Okemah-born American folk songwriter and social activist, has special exhibits on other musicians with similar worldviews. woodyguthriecenter.org

Philbrook Downtown

The world-renowned Philbrook Museum of Art has a downtown satellite with a focus on contemporary and Native American art. philbrook.org

ahha Tulsa

Artistic opportunities abound at ahha Tulsa, all included with admission, including a contemporary art gallery, a studio with a hands-on maker space and The Experience, a multi-sensory immersive art environment. ahhatulsa.org

Guthrie Green

Food trucks gather at Guthrie Green, an urban garden and performance space in the Arts District with free performances, patios, seating, a splash pad, a pavilion, shady expanses and acres of lawn. guthriegreen.com

Drillers Baseball

Cheer the Tulsa Drillers at ONEOK Field and enjoy abundant food choices, a gift shop, craft beer and post game fireworks. milb.com/tulsa

Tulsa PAC

Take in a show at the Performing Arts Center or simply visit its acclaimed public art exhibitions. The venue features shows from Tulsa Ballet, Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Symphony and Celebrity Attractions. tulsapac.com

Dust Bowl Lanes and Bar

This is the place for a nostalgic vibe, tasty bar food, cocktails and several lanes of bowling. dustbowllounge.com/locations/tulsa

Cain’s Ballroom

On the National Register of Historic Places, the Cain’s is on many a music-lover’s bucket list. cainsballroom.com

Brady Theater

Rich in history – and some say haunted – the Brady Theater opened in 1914. Due to controversies surrounding the Brady name, it’s to become the Tulsa Theater this year. bradytheater.com

BOK Center

The Bank of Oklahoma Center seats nearly 20,000 for indoor sports, concerts and other events. bokcenter.com

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